Hibiscus plant named ‘JWNWOOD 4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘JWNWOOD 4’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; large light pink-colored flowers with numerous petaloids; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus syriacus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JWNWOOD 4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus syriacus, commercially known as Rose-of-Sharon or Althea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JWNWOOD 4’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Runcton Holme, Norfolk, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Hibiscus plants with large pink-colored flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in July, 2003 of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus syriacus identified as code number 3311, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus syriacus identified as code number 4243, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Sep. 4, 2006 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Runction Holme, Norfolk, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Runcton Holme, Norfolk, United Kingdom has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JWNWOOD 4’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JWNWOOD 4’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Large light pink-colored flowers with numerous petaloids.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color and flower form as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers with fewer petaloids.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color and flower form as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers with fewer petaloids.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwood3’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,574. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Notwood3’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Notwood3’ had blue-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Hibiscus were not as vigorous as plants of ‘Notwood3’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can also be compared to plants of the Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwoodtwo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,612. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Notwoodtwo’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Notwoodtwo’ had white-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Hibiscus were not as vigorous as plants of ‘Notwoodtwo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘JWNWOOD 4’ grown in a ground bed in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowering plant of ‘JWNWOOD 4’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summer in a ground bed in an outdoor nursery and under cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus syriacus ‘JWNWOOD 4’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             syriacus identified as code number 3311, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             syriacus identified as code number 4243, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 45 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four months at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial deciduous shrub;             upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, usually about 32             lateral branches develop per plant; pinching enhances             lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 1.5 meters.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 1 meter. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 42 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Texture, immature.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, mature.—Woody.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 137A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 198A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to rhomboid.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Crenate; lobed.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers;             flowers terminal and axillary; freely flowering habit with             usually about eight flowers per lateral branch; flowers face             upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last for about one day on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             from July 1 through September 15 in Michigan.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 6 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 147C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement and quantity: Single whorl of five             petals; petals imbricate. Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About             5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly obtuse. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 48A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 48C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 68D and 69A; towards the             base and venation, close to 59A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 68D and 69A.         -   Petaloids.—Arrangement and quantity: About 22 petaloids in             several whorls; petaloids imbricate. Length: About 3 cm.             Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 68D.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement and quantity: Single whorl of five             sepals fused into a tubular calyx. Length: About 1.2 cm.             Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Roughly ovate. Apex: Acute to             acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and mature,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Angle: Erect to             about 30° from the stem. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther shape: Globular.             Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to             155B. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             162A. Gynoecium: Style length: About 3 cm. Style color:             Close to 155A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 155C. Ovary color: Close to 157A.             Seeds: Quantity per flower: Up to five. Length: About             2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Color: Close to 187A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have excellent garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘JWNWOOD 4’ as illustrated and described. 